RML completes first MG Lola EX265 test

"Perfect" first test for new MG Lola EX265
RML AD Group's new MG Lola EX265 completed a faultless first shakedown
test at the Silverstone circuit yesterday, Friday 8th February. The
morning run left Brazilian driver Thomas Erdos thrilled by ...

"Perfect" first test for new MG Lola EX265

RML AD Group's new MG Lola EX265 completed a faultless first shakedown
test at the Silverstone circuit yesterday, Friday 8th February. The
morning run left Brazilian driver Thomas Erdos thrilled by the
responsiveness of the new XP-21 engine, and looking forward to the
prospects of defending the LMP2 title in this season's Le Mans Series.

Thomas Erdos and co-driver Mike Newton took the series title last year
with RML's MG Lola EX264, having won the LMP2 class in the Le Mans 24
Hours in 2005 and 2006. Since then the EX264, itself a derivative of the
EX257 that wowed the crowds at Le Mans as an MG works entry in 2001, has
undergone significant further development. Arising from fresh links with
Shanghai Automotive, MG's new owners in China, the car has been
re-homologated as the MG EX265. Most significant amongst those
enhancements has been the production, in association with AER, of the
two-litre turbocharged XP-21 engine.

Further refinements, as yet unspecified, have left RML's team manager
Phil Barker upbeat about the team's chances this year. "Today has been
an excellent start to the season," he said. "We've carried out a
fundamental restructuring of the car during the course of the winter, and
today was the first chance we've had to examine some of those changes.
We haven't had a single problem -- not one -- and it's all gone silky
smooth." From the smile on his face it was easy to judge the sense of
satisfaction permeating throughout the team. "The guys have done a great
job," he added. "They've already set themselves a very high standard
for the year, but that's what we like!"

Referring to the new engine, Barker was impressed. "This has been the
first time we've ever run the XP-21, and it's gone like clockwork. The
whole package seems very strong and a significant step forward." Thomas
Erdos was quick to agree. "Absolutely great!" he said. "The new MG
XP-21 is a beautiful unit. You can immediately tell that the engine is
crisp and very responsive, and despite not being able to stretch it much
today, I can already detect an improvement over the engine we were using
last year."

The EX265 was running in full race trim at Silverstone, including the
additional 50 kilos that will ballast all the LMP2 entrants in the Le
Mans Series this year. This extra weight, up to 825 kilos from 775, in
conjunction with reduced fuel capacity (down to 80 litres from 90) is
intended to emphasise the differences between the P1 and P2 prototypes.
The flipside to this amendment to the regulations is likely to manifest
itself in an even closer parity between LMP2 and GT1. In 2007 the GT
class leaders were already as quick down the straights as the best in
LMP2, so the added weight could further complicate this issue. The
importance of developing more from the engine, and thereby hoping to
reinstate some degree of advantage in this inter-class battle, becomes
even more significant. "To have this new engine running so well
demonstrates a real move in the right direction," said Erdos.

By midday every box had been ticked and the test was complete. "It's
been a fantastic morning," grinned Erdos. "This car was down to bare
bones a few days ago, so it's a credit to the team, and some indication
of the level of preparation these guys achieve, that everything has
worked well. In fact, it's been the perfect shakedown."

The team plans to complete another run in the MG Lola EX265 ahead of the
first official Le Mans test at the Paul Ricard circuit in France at the
beginning of March.